Tourniquet



W. RAMIEN April 21, 1959 TOURNIQUET Filed Oct. l5. 1956 mura/n1,

lill/lim. '11101;

/cll

INVENTOR.

ro duur Application @ctober l5, 1956, Serial No. 615,997

1l Claims. v(Cl. 12S-.327)

This invention relates to a tourniquet device for use on parts of the body, and is adapted to apply a tourniquet effect rapidly, simply and painlessly in order to block the flow of blood or to drain olf blood.

Known devices of this kind have a buckle which is xed to one end of a rubber belt and through which the other end of the belt is pulled between a milled or serrated roller and a clamping lever which is adapted to be rocked by thumb pressure and by means of which the loop thus formed can be secured in any position or released. The disadvantages ofv these known tourniquet devices are that the skin of the part of the body engaged by the tourniquet during the tightening thereof is pressed together into folds in a painful manner. Also when the buckle is released, the necessary pressure of the thumb on the buckle lever makes itself felt in an unpleasant manner on the part of the body, and finally when the belt is detensioned suddenly, there is an undesirable release of the pent-up blood in the veins and a jerky movement of the part of the body.

Tourniquet devices are also known wherein the belt forms a loop and both belt parts are guided through a displaceable closure which is provided with a clamping lever subjected to the iniiuence of spring pressure. ln this arrangement the clamping device comprises belts that are pressed apart from one another by means of a wedge as they issue from the device which means that both hands are required for operating the device. This is particularly true, of tensioning. lf only one Vhand is used in releasing the device, it is impossible to avoid jerky detensioning. This renders manipulation of the device difficult and makes -it unsuitable for practical use.

' One object of the invention is that both belt portions of the loop are guided unilaterally between the clamping lever and the bottom of the housing, and that the handle end ofthe clamping lever is constructed as a press key and is directed towards the loop. Moreover, the short clamping arm of the two-armed lever is wholly and the presskey arm partially concealed by the cover of the housing.

Such a construction of a tourniquet enables the whole device to be held in a substantially different manner than has been the case heretofore, and thus allows more skillful and gentle or more sensitive handling. In most cases, a tourniquet is used by the doctor when he has to make yan injection, in which case his whole attention must be directed to the place of injection, the injection needle and its manipulation. Hand in hand with -the injection there may be a further constriction on the part of the body, ori a gentle relaxation and possibly further tightening, depending on what substance and what quantity is being injected. When the tourniquet is applied, it must be possible to lnd and grasp the device again reliably and securely without glancing away fromv the needle. This is possible with the construction of the tourniquet according to the invention. The blocking device and the belts can be held in one hand at the same time, and in such manner that it is possible not only to slacken Ythe device but also to apply a more intensive constricting effect if necessary. This is possible since the same hand can grasp both the constricting device and also the belt ends, in such a fashion that the device can be moved slowly relatively to the belt in both directions, i.e, corresponding to release and further constriction. The constricting device is held between thumb and index nger, and if necessary with the assistance of the middle finger, in the left hand. The two other lingers engage about the projecting belt ends and can press them against the palm of the hand. This is done simply by grasping the device inside the hand. Thus it is possible to slide the clamping lever mechanism delicately along the two belts, which are held together by the other two lingers, the thumb operating the press key. In this way the intensity of constric tion can be adjusted easily at any time. The mechanism can be shifted smoothly and in a sliding manner.

According to a further feature of the invention, when the two-armed lever is situated in the depressed position, limited by a stop, it lies parallel to the bottom of the housing, providing a through opening corresponding to twice the thickness of one layer of belt. The ridged key of the press arm of the lever and the upper side of the housing advantageously lie in the same plane when the device is in the position of rest. In this condition the superjacent belt portions are subjected to a light clamping eliect. This is achieved by suitable dimensioning of the spring element, which is constructed moreparticularly as a rubber pad. As a result, when the key situated f on the long arm of the lever is pressed downwardly, an independent counter-pressure is present which makes re lease of the belt clamping system diflicult, so that the speed of opening the closure, i.e. the speed of de-tension ing the belt and therefore relaxing the constriction, depends on the force of linger pressure applied. Thus the rate of de-tensioning can easily be regulated.

One constructional example of the subject of the invention is illustrated in the drawings, wherein:

Fig. l isa side sectional view of the device, with the loop tightened and the housing in the clamping position.

Fig. 2 is a side sectional view of the housing fully opened by pressure on the press arm until movement thereof is limited by a stop.

Fig. 3 is a front sectional view of the opened housing with the two belt ends;

Fig. 4 is a side sectional view of the device with the belt de-tensioned and the housing in the position of rest.

Fig. 5 is a plan view of the device.

Fig. 6 is a side sectional View of the device provided with a pressure meter, with the loop tensioned and the housing in the clamping position.

Fig. 7 shows a modified constructional form of the stops situated on the belt ends. i

According to the invention, the two ends 5b of the belt 5 are both pulled through the housing l., between lever 2 and housing bottom 1a, so that in front of one closure aperture, the loop 5a for surrounding the part of the body 9 is formed, while the belt ends 5b lie adjacent one another outside the opposite aperture of the housing 1.

The lever 2 is pivotally mounted on the pin 3 mounted in the housing 1 and comprises the long press arm 2a at the loop side and the short clamping arm 2b at the pulling side. The housing l has a cover 1b which encloses the clamping arm 2b and part of the press arm Za, which is only exposed at one end which is in the form of a ridged key adapted to be operated by linger pressure.

The spring element 4 comprising a rubber pad or a compression spring, which is interposed between clamping arm 2b and cover lb, presses the clamping armA 2b against the belt 5 and the bottoni la of the. housing l. The rubber belt 5 consists of two or more layers sur 9 v o rounded by fabric material, woven together at the edges. This doubling, and using a great number of tine rubber filaments, produces a fine-mesh smooth surface which slides painlessly over the skin of the part of the body .beingconstricted with slight adhesive ypowenand which travels smoothly through ,the closure. At the same time Qthe doubling givesthe rubber .belt the requisite high tensile strength.

The clamping sleeves 8 whichare pressed on to the ends-of the rubber belt 5 and are formed with toothed slots, serve as stopsforpreventing the belt from'being pulled out of the closure, as does the non-toothed slit push-on-sleeve r6, which is fitted on toan end loop 5c of the loop Sa-of the rubbervbelt `5 after vthepin fl vhas been inserted in said end loop. These stops reliably couple the closure and belt together andenable them to AHbe ready for use at anytime.

Accidental pulling of the -rubberbelt Strom out of the closure ineither direction -is -prevented by the stops. To .replace the belt, the push-on sleeve 6 is pulled off, the pin7 falling outof the belt loop 5c, and the loop side VSa'of the old belt is pulled out of the closure, whereupon the replacement belt is Aintroduced at the pulling side of Athe closurepulled through, andthe pin 7 and push-onsleeve,iittedin position.

In using a device according to the constructional form -described hereinbefore, the operations of tightening and releasing proceed as follows:

After putting the part of the body 9 through the loop 5a, `in the rubber belt 5, and grasping withone hand the closure consisting of the housing land key 2, the other hand grasping the two belt ends 5b, pulls exertedon the latter obtain the desired tension in the loop Sa. Then, with the rubber belt 5 in this tensioned position, the closure is pushed against the part of the body and the closure and belt are released. The rubber belt 5 `is thus clamped fast immovably in the desired constricting condition of tension.

The clamping eiect is exerted by vthe tension of the stretched loop 5a, the effect being greater at the end of the long press arm 2a of the lever 2 in proportion as the constricting tension is higher. The tractive force presses the clamping arm 2b with increased power against the bottom la of the housing 1. The belt ends Sb lying therebetween are thus clamped fast so strongly by the smooth end of the clamping arm 2b that the tractive force Iof the .tensioned loop 5a does not suti'ice` to .release the fashioned that its upper surface `and the upper surface of Ithe cover .lbhlie in the same plane when the device is not in the clamped condition', but when the device is under tension a closed guide channel is still guaranteed by means of the high end face of the key, despite the keys projecting from the housing 1.

During full opening-by pressing on the key until the clamping anni 2b abuts on the cover lib, the two opposite apertures of the closure channel have like rectangular cross-sections, so that the belt ends can move freely through the closurefchannel and be fully de-tensioned when the devicep is opened.

The'front end of the press arm 2a and the end of the housing 1 lie in a vcommon cylindrical plane curved about thepivot pin 3, so that when thev device is in the constricting position the closure is only in punctiform contact with the part of the body and, when the device is opened, the key does not as a result of its pivotal movement about the pin 3 issue from the end of the housing 1 and press on the partof the body.

- Itis possible to arrange in the bottom la of the. housing La pressure rneterlt) which, by means of a knob' 11 projecting into the interior of the housing 1,' receives and registers the transverse pressure ofthe rubber belt which is lying tensioned in the housing, and the dial scale can indicate theeffective` 'longitudinal tension proportionate to the transverse pressure.

, Fig. -7 shows another construction of thestops which are arranged at the ends of ythe belt. The stops 8a consist of sheet metal strips which engage flat about thebelt ends and between whose arms a shor'tsection of belt end is'held fast by a clamping effect. The extension Sb, which is advantageously rounded when seen in plan View, is bent away slightly from the belt surface. When the belt l ends are pulled down to the housing' ll, the lifted ends Sb slide on the round part of the housing 1 and bring the end pieces 8a into inclined positions, stopping further movement. But if, when the belt ends are pulled through the housing, the stop extensions 8b 'are pressed against the belt surface, the belt can be pulled through the device without removing the stops 3a, 8b. This has the advantage that thel stops 8a, 8b can be left onV the belt.

It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that various changes and modifications may be made in the construction as disclosed Without departing from the spirit of the invention, and it is intended that all such changes and modifications shall be embraced within the scope of the following claims.

What is claimed is:

1.A tourniquet comprising Aa housing open at `both ends, a looped belt extending through the housing, a y clamping lever pivoted between the sidemwalls of the housing `and overlying the belt with the looped portions of the belt guided unilaterally vbetween the lever and bottom wall of the housing, that part of the lever directed towards the looped end of the beltconstituting `a press eiect at a rate which can be iniinitely adjustable, as required, between rapid and slow. t

`The belt ends 5b, which could also be connected together without impairing the, tensioning and releasing operations, are vleft separate toshow clearly by means of the closed loop 5a at one side of the closure and the open, separate belt ends 5b at the other end, howthe device is to be applied to the part of the body, and to show this in such a way as to exclude the possibility of confusion vwhich would be present owing to the second loop which k.would be formedif the belt ends'Sbv were ioined together.

Separate belt ends 5b have the furtheradvantagethat, after the belt S has been pulled back as far as the stop 6, if the belt is wound about the closures/the said ends can beshifted without causing tension, so that..the wound device has a smooth outline with a view to beingplaced in a container of restricted size.

The key on the long press `arm 2a of .the `leverV 2 is so arm, a cover 4overlying the housing atthe end spaced from the belt loop and spaced from the press arm, and .the otherend of the lever constituting a'clamping arm underlying the vcover and said press arm beinglonger than the .clamping arm.

2. A touniquet as in claim l characterized by the lever whenin a depressed position lying parallel to and spaced from the bottom of the housing to provide van unobstructed opening forv the passage of the two layers of the'loopedI belt. i 3. A tourniquet comprising a housing open at both ends, at looped 'belt extending through the housing, a clamping lever pivoted vbetween the `side walls ofthe housing and` overlying the belt with thelooped'portions of the belt guided unilaterally betweenthe .lever and bottom wall of the housing, that part of the lever directed .towards the looped ,end ofl thevybelt constituting a press .`anni,the.freendof theiptress arm and adjacentnend of the housing lying in the same arc and centered on the lever pivot.

4. A tourniquet comprising a housing open *at both ends, a looped belt extending through the housing, a clamping lever pivoted between the side walls of the housing and overlying the vbelt with the looped portions of the belt guided unilaterally between the lever and bottom wall of the housing, that part of the lever directed towards the looped end of the belt constituting a press arm, a cover overlying the housing at the end spaced from the belt loop and spaced from the press arm, and the other end of the lever constituting -a clamping arm underlying the cover and said press arm being longer than the clamping arm, the free end of the press arm and adjacent end of the housing lying in the same arc and centered on the lever pivot.

5. A tourniquet as in claim l characterized by the lever when in a depressed position lying parallel to and spaced from the bottom of the housing to provide an unobstructed opening for the passage of the two layers of the looped belt, the free end of the press arm and adjacent end of the housing lying in the same `are and centered `on the lever pivot.

6. A tourniquet comprising a housing open at both ends, a looped belt extending through the housing, a

clamping lever pivoted between the side walls of the housing and overlying the belt with the looped portions of the belt guided unilaterally between the lever and lbottom wall of the housing, that part of the lever directed towards the looped end of the belt constituting a press arm, the upper face of the press arm being ridged and said upper face and upper side of the housing cover lying in the same plane when the tourniquet is in aposition of rest and a tensioning element interposed between the clamping end of the lever and the cover of the housing.

7. A tourniquet comprising a housing open at both ends, a looped belt extending through the housing, a clamping lever pivoted between the side walls of the housing and overlying the belt with the looped portions of the belt guided unilaterally between the lever and bottom wall of the housing, that part of the lever directed towards the looped end of the belt constituting a press arm, a cover overlying the housing at the end spaced from the belt loop and spaced from the press arm, and the other end of the lever constituting a clamping arm underlying the cover and said press arm being longer than the clamping arm, the upper face of the press arm being ridged and said upper face and upper side of the housing cover lying in the same plane when the tourniquet is in a position of rest and a tensioning element interposed between the clamping ends of the lever of the housing.

8. A tourniquet as in claim 1 `characterized by the lever when in a depressed position lying parallel to and spaced from the bottom of the housing to provide an unobstructed opening for the passage of the two layers of the looped belt, the upper face of the press arm being ridged and said upper face and upper side of the housing cover lying in the same plane when the tourniquet is in a position of rest and a tensioning element interposed between the clamping end of the lever and the cover of the housing.

and the cover 9. A tourniquet comprising a housing open at both ends, Ia looped belt extending through the housing, a clamping lever pivoted between the side walls of the housing land overlying the belt with the looped portions of the belt gui-ded unilaterally 'between the lever and bottom wall of the housing, that part of the lever directed towards the looped end of the belt constituting fa press arm, and a pressure meter carried by the bottom wall of the housing and engaged with the belt to indicate pressure of the tensioned belt.

l0. A tourniquet comprising a housing open at both ends, a looped belt extending through the housing, a clamping lever pivoted between the side walls of the housing and overlying the belt with the looped portions of the belt guided unilaterally between the lever and bottom Wall of the housing, that part of the lever directed towards the looped end of the belt constituting a press arm, a cover overlying the housing at the end spaced from the belt loop and spaced from the press arm, and the other end of the lever constituting a clamping arm underlying the cover and said press arm being longer than the clamping arm, `and a pressure meter carried by the bottom wall of the housing and engaged with the belt to indicate pressure of the tensioned belt.

1l. A tourniquetrcomprising `a housing open at both ends, a looped belt extending through the housing, a clamping lever pivoted between the side walls of the housing and overlying the belt with the looped portions of the belt guided unilaterally between the lever and bottom wall of the housing, that part of the lever directed towards the looped end of the belt constituting a press arm, and stop means at the free ends of the belt and at the looped portion of the belt to prevent removal of the housing from the belt.

References Cited in the tile of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 

